Can a cat be captured and taken to a shelter because it does not have identification?

Question

My cat has been missing for 3 days now and I will be calling the local shelters today but I wanted to know....can just anyone capture a cat (not knowing if it is owned or not) and surrender it to a shelter. My cat WILL be micro chipped if/when I find him but he always looses his collars so it is hard to make sure he is always wearing one. I heard from a neighbor that another neighbor had taken a skinny but very friendly cat from the neighborhood to the shelter. It just worries me that this could possibly happen. Does anyone have any experience with this or have had this happen to you? Suggestions? Also, will I have to pay to "bail" him out if someone has chosen to take him to the shelter??

Answer 1

yes  ppl can take cats to the shelter but where i am from the shelters will not just take a cat they must pay to drop it off

Answer 2

yes that can happen.. but what u need to have to make sure they will never take him is a little key chain that the vet gives u after he or she has had a check up (like his/her shots).. the animal control will look at that around his neck (collar) and know not to mess wit him/her because they will know it belongs to a owner. And no i dont think it will cost to get the cat out of the shelter. but hey who knows! hope i answered your question for ya!

Answer 3

I am sorry your kitty is missing.  And I hope you find him safe and well.

To answer your question, absolutely!!  When someone finds a cat or dog outside that has no ID (or even if they have it), it is in that pet's best interest to be taken to the local shelter.  It is that pet's best chance to be reunited with an owner who is out there looking for them.  It also can save their life from being hit by car, being attacked by another animal, being poisoned or shot or taken in and kept by another family.   Most people do not turn in animals to the shelter to be mean or vindictive, they do it to aid in the hopes of helping them find their proper owners or get the animal perhaps needed medical treatment due to an injury incurred from being outside to begin with.  

Needless to say, I do believe pets should be kept inside or completely supervised when outside.  Not because I want to be mean, but for the exact reason that you are going through.  It is just too risky for them.

Once again, I do hope it works out for you and your kitty is ok.  :)

Answer 4

If your cat has no ID, no one knows if he is owned or not, so Yes, he can be picked up by animal control. You will be lucky if he's been taken to a shelter and not just run over by a car, or hurt by another animal. Maybe it would be good to look for your cat more often than every three days. Get on the phone and call the shelters near you. Some of them have a time limit that they will keep a cat, depending on age and health. Good luck. I hope you get him back, safe and sound.  

Answer 5

Yes, if a cat is found wondering around it can be taken to the shelter even if it DOES have identification because alot of times that is one of the first places people look when they have lost an animal.

You may have to prove that you are the owner in some way. Before looking at the cats they have inside the shelter call and speak with someone giving them a detailed description of your cat.

Best of luck.

Answer 6

Yes, just about anyone who is willing to capture the cat and make the trip is able to take a cat to the shelter. Normally though, when they come through the shelter, they'll check for microchips or collar tags for addresses or vets. So in addition to calling the shelters I would call vets too because people also bring pets in there. I have never heard of anyone having to "bail" their pet out of a shelter, they'll normally just give him back to you with any proof that it's yours (old vet bills, pictures, etc.) Sorry to hear about this though, hope you find him.

Answer 7

The cat ran away because it hates you.  Get over it.

And yes people can take cats that aren't inside or on a leash to a shelter.  Even if it has a tag on.  Then you can drive there and pay your fine for letting an animal run loose in the neighborhood.